Quid Pro Quo

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgement now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

-2 Peter 2:3

There has been alot of talk on the news today about quid pro quo. What is it exactly, and is it a bad thing?

Quid pro quo is defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “something given or received for something else.” You can break it down as literally meaning “this for that.” Sometimes, quid pro quo can be a good thing. Getting your kids to clean their room in exchange for letting them stay up for an extra hour or taking them somewhere they want to go on the weekend is a good example of this.

However, there are times when quid pro quo can be a bad thing, especially within politics or within the criminal justice system. A person using their position to get someone to do something unethical in order for them to receive a favor is one example of this. Another example would be for a court to let someone who commit ten murders go free in exchange for their testimony against someone who committed five murders and other crimes. This kind of “tic-for-tac” may be justified within the legal system, but morally this is not justified, especially in God’s eyes.

Romans 16:18, in regards to those who manipulate others, says that “for such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” When we are doing something for people in exchange for something, we have to ask ourselves two questions: is what they are asking of us is unethical and is what they are asking of us leading us away from the glory of God? We must also ask ourselves if what we are asking of someone is unethical or immoral. I believe that when two people are about to do favors for each other, they should have a thorough discussion about what they want and ask themselves if what they are asking for is wrong? By having a open dialog and keeping your thoughts aligned with the scriptures of the Bible, you will know that what you are asking for and what you are willing to give will be blessed under the glory of God.